Reclosable container



July 29, 1969 A. K. GOLDMAN RECLOSABLE CONTAINER Filed Nov. 7, 1967 F'IG..1

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ALEX K. GOLDMAN INVEN'IOR 7 8 BY 51 7Q I ATTORNEY F'IG..ZO

United States Patent 3,458,110 RECLOSABLE CONTAINER Alex K. Goldman, Tacoma, Wash., assignor to W. R. Grace & Co., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Nov. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 681,258 Int. Cl. B65d 5/72 U.S. Cl. 229-17 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A gable top container, such as a conventional plasticcoated paper container for milk, is made tightly reclosable by using a slit plastic tube as a clamp on the rib of the gable.

The present invention relates to a novel and useful container for liquids. More particularly it relates to a conventional gable top container which is tightly reclosable.

It is known in the art that various wax-coated and plastic-coated paper containers may be used for milk and other dairy products. Such containers are widely used in the dairy industry and are completely disclosed in US. Patents 2,750,095 (Reissue 25,021), 3,120,333 and 3,120,- 335. Recently it has been proposed that such containers be utilized for mayonnaise, salad dressings and the like particularly in the institutional type of packaging. However, one drawback to this type of container is the fact that it will not tightly reclose which allows some oxidation of the product upon prolonged storage in the container. Accordingly, such containers have not been generally suitable for use with salad dressings and mayonnaise as these products require a tightly closed container to prevent oxidation. Quite obviously, if such a container could be tightly rescaled by an inexpensive and simple means it would receive widespread acceptance in the art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tightly resealable container of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patents. A further object is to provide an inexpensive means for tightly resealing such containers. A still further object is to provide a closing means which does not detract from the aesthetic value of the container. Other objects will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

These objects are accomplished by the present invention which provides a tightly reclosable container comprising in combination (1) a container of paper board or the like having a gable top with a central laminar rib across the top and (2) a slit resilient tube positioned on the rib with the rib inserted into the slit.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the tube is plastic, and the length of the tube is about /2 the length of the central laminar rib so that the tube does not protrude from the container when the tube is in the retracted position. In another preferred embodiment, the slit edges of the tube are flared inward or outward so that the tube may be readily positioned on the rib. In still another preferred embodiment, at least one extremity of the tube contains flared portions which act as a guide to properly position the tube on the rib.

The expression container of paper board or the like having a gable top with a central laminar rib across the top is used to signify the conventional wax-coated or plastic-coated paperboard container as shown and described in US. Patents 3,120,333 and 3,120,335 which patcuts are hereby incorporated by reference. Such containers are well known and are Widely used in the dairy industry today. In general such containers have a liquid capacity of /2 pint, 1 pint, 1 quart, and /2 gallon. The present invention concerns itself with all such sizes including the larger sizes which are not in such widespread use.

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The term slit merely signfies that a longitudinal cut has been made in the tube so that the tube may be positioned on the central laminar rib across the top of the container. The expression resilient signifies that the tube is quite rigid and quite readily recovers its shape after it is subjected to stress to deform it. The term tube signifies a hollow elongated part but does not signify that the part is necessarily circular in cross section. The tube may be rectangular, triangular, circular, square, hexagonal or have any other polygonal configuration in cross section. The slit edges of the tube may be flared outward or inward and the extremity of the tube may be flared so as to make the tube more easily positionable on the rib. The tube may be made of metal but preferably it is plastic. Among the suitable plastic materials which may be used are polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyamides (nylons), polycarbonates and the like. Preferably, the more inexpensive plastics such as polyethylene or polypropylene are utilized so that the costs may be kept to a minimum.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the reclosable container of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the reclosable container shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6 show end views of other types of plastic tubes which may be used in place of triangular plastic tube shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a preferred type of plastic tube to be utilized on the container shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 8 is an end view of the plastic tube shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of another preferred type of plastic tube to be utilized with the container shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 10 is an end view of the plastic tube shown in FIGURE 9.

In FIGURES 1 and 2, the conventional type of milk carton 1 (as completely described in US. Patents 3,120,- 333 and 3,120,335) contains a central laminar rib 2 across the top of the container. A slit resilient tube 3 is positioned on the central laminar rib 2 with the rib inserted into the slit of the tube 3. The container is opened by pushing the slit tube 3 to the left as shown by the phantom lines. The top portion of the gable is then pulled apart and a pouring spout is formed by the sides of the gable. To reseal the container the sides are folded inward to their original position and the slit tube 3 is moved to its original position. The slit edges 4 of the tube 3 are quite resilient and hold the central laminar rib tightly thereby forming a tight seal.

As shown in FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6, the slit tube may have any configuration it only being required that it be made of a resilient material. While metals may be used to construct the slit tube, it is preferable that the material be plastic as these are less expensive and easier to fabricate. The tube may have the edges flared outward (as shown in FIGURE 7) or inward (as shown in FIG- URE 3) to make packaging easier or to increase the surface area of the tube which is in contact with the rib.

In FIGURES 7 and 8, the tube 5 has its slit edges 6 flared outward so as to make it easier to position the tube on the rib of the container.

In FIGURES 9 and 10, the tube 7 has both extremities 8 of the tube flared outward so that it may be easily positioned on the rib of the container.

In FIGURES l and 2, the tube is shown as approximately /2 the length of the central laminar rib so that it will easily slide on the rib and in the open position does not project beyond the side of the container. Naturally, the slit tube may extend along the complete length of the central laminar rib if the projection beyond the wall upon opening is not objectionable.

The following example is given to illustrate the invention and is not intended to limit it in any manner.

EXAMPLE A conventional 1 quart milk container (as completely described in US. Patents 3,120,333 and 3,120,335) is equipped with a slit plastic tube as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings. The quart container has a height of 7 /2" on a base 2%" square. The gable extends about 1" beyond the top of the rectangular side and the central laminar rib extends an additional /2" upward. The triangular tube has a thickness of about 55 mils and is extruded from a high density polyethylene homopolymer (density 0.960). The triangular tube has a base of and a height of V The apex of the triangular tube is slit longitudinally (as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2) and the tubing is cut into 1 /2" lengths. The slit tube is then positioned on the container as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. After opening the container and refolding the top to the closed position, the slit tube is moved over the previously opened portion of the central laminar rib as shown in FIGURE 1.

When the slit tube is positioned on the container, the container may be inverted or dropped without spilling. Without the slit tube in position, the spout opens and the contents are lost when the container is turned upside down.

While the container has been described with regard to specific embodiments of the invention, it is obvious that many other equivalent modifications would be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the foregoing without a departure from the inventive concept.

What is claimed is:

1. A tightly reclosable container which comprises, in

combination:

(a) a container of paperboard or the like having a gable top with a central laminar rib across the top, and

(b) a slit resilient plastic tube positioned on the rib with the rib inserted into the slit, said tube having a length of about /2 the length of the central laminar rib and slidable thereon such that in the open position the tube does not project beyond the side of I the container, said tube further having a triangular cross section with a side extremity projecting from each side edge adjacent the bottom of said tube and disposed along a line substantially perpendicular to said slidable direction when said tube is positioned on said rib, said projecting extremities flared outwardly and having a length of about half that of the length of the side edges of said tube to serve as a guide when positioning the said tube on the rib.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,021,609 11/1935 Pippert 229 2,319,316 5/1943 Gerendas 229-65 2,336,503 12/1943 Ringler 229--65 2,533,539 12/1950 Vivian 229-65 2,586,931 2/1952 Gammon 2430.5 3,381,883 5/1968 Harris.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

